Receptacle having scrubbing brushes for cleaning golf club heads



CHAMBLESS RECEPTACLE HAVING SCRUBBING BRUSHES May 8, 1956 FOR CLEANING GOLF CLUB HEADS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1954 INVENTOR. [CW4 May 8, 1956 Filed Dec. 8, 1954 CHAMBLE 2,744,276 VING SCRUBB G BRUSHES FOR CLEANING GOLF CLUB HEADS E. F. RECEPTACLE HA 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fi fi I WWI/A W W United States Patent RECEPTACLE HAVING SCRUBBING BRUSHES FOR CLEANING GOLF CLUB HEADS Ersyl 1E. Chambless, Chicago, Iii.

Application December 8, 1954, Serial No. 473,779

4 Claims. (Cl. -123) This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning golf clubs and more particularly to a device for cleaning golf club heads.

In playing the game of golf, club heads become soiled, requiring frequent cleaning in order to maintain their appearance and condition. found at golf courses for cleaning golf balls, no facilities are afforded for cleaning club heads. Heretofore, the cleaning of club heads has been done mainly by using cleaning rags or sponges carried by the golfer. The use of such cleaning means is usually inefiicient, inconvenient and disagreeable for obvious reasons.

To the end of overcoming these undesirable features, this invention provides a single and effective apparatus, whereby it is only necessary to place the club head in the apparatus and, with a vertical reciprocating motion of the club handle, scrub off all dirt, grass, etc. that might adhere to the head. Since the handling of the dirty head is done entirely by the present invention, not only is club cleaning much less unpleasant and toilsome, but the resultant cleaning also is quicker and more thorough than that achieved by hand cleaning.

'In carrying out this invention, one object is to provide a novel arrangement of cleaning surfaces so related as to expose a maximum amount of the club head to the cleaning surfaces during the cleaning operation.

, Another object is to provide a mounting frame arrangement which maintains the cleaning surfaces rigid within the apparatus, and which permits easy removal of the cleaning surfaces and frame as a unit so that the frame and/ or the cleaning surfaces may be replaced or repaired either separately or as a unit.

An essential feature of this invention is to provide golf club cleaning apparatus which is convenient to use for both right and left hand persons, and which requires no awkward club positioning during the scrubbing operation.

Still another object is to provide a novel cleaning cornpartment cover which keeps undesirable matter out of the cleaning compartment, prevents splashing of the cleaning liquid, and acts as a guide to direct the clubs to the proper sets of cleaning surfaces.

A further object of this invention is to provide golf club cleaning apparatus which has no moving parts, and which uses brushes so shaped, sized, and oriented as to provide efficient scrubbing elements.

And, still another object of this invention is to provide a highly simplified, compact and sturdy golf club cleaning device, one having a minimum number of parts and which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

In the present invention these and other objects are met by a covered receptacle holding a frame therein for mounting two sets of scrubbing surfaces in proper position. The scrubbing surfaces receive and frictionally engage the club heads, thereby scrubbing them as the club handles are vertically reciprocated. The receptacle cover is provided with two openings, one for each set of scrubbing surfaces and so located above the scrubbing elements as to guide the club heads thereto. 1

While devices are generally The foregoing and other objects, advantages and feawith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a general perspective view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with parts of the cover broken away, taken on line 2-2 in Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a front cross section elevational view of the apparatus, taken on line 3--3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side cross section elevational view of the apparatus taken on line 4-4 in Figure 3, showing the cleaning elements for irons;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the cleaning elements for woods, taken on line 5-5 in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a plan view of both sets of cleaning elements and their supporting frame;

Figure 7 shows a modified brush, and bracket therefor; and,

Figure 8 is a View taken on line 8-8 in Figure 7.

The invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is intended to be placed in an upright position adjacent to golf ball cleaning devices or at the various tees of a golf course. Where desired, the device may be supported and locked upon a small pedestal in order to provide a foundation.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a rectangular tank 11 comprising a bottom compartment 12 and a removable cover portion 13. Cover 13 helps to keep dirt, grass, and rain out of compartment 12, while also protecting the contents therein. It is preferred that tank 11 be made from a non-corrosive material, such as galvanized iron, while compartment 12 contains any suitable cleanning fluid, such as soap and water or the like, or just water alone.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, cover 13 is provided with two openings, 14 and 15, which permit insertion of the golf club heads into compartment 12. Opening 14 is sufficiently large enough to permit the heads of all woods A (shown in dotted lines in Figure 3) to pass therethrough and opening 15 is T-shaped in order to permit the insertion into compartment 12 of both left-hand and right-hand irons B (also shown in Figure 3 in dotted lines). Opening 15 comprises three portions. Stem portion 15a accommodates club head B as it enters tank 11 While cross portions 15b and permit translatory movement of shaft D as head B is cleaned. For example, aperture portion 150 permits translatory movement of shaft D as a right hand club head B is inserted into aperture portion 15a and moved vertically for scrubbing, while aperture portion 15b permits similar but opposite translatory movement of shaft D when a left hand club head B is inserted into aperture portion 15a and moved vertically for scrubbing.

As a precaution against injury or marring of the shafts C and D of the woods and irons respectively, it is desirable that both openings 14- and 15 have downwardly depending flanges 16 and 17 about their respective peripheries, with the junction of the upper flange portion and cover being slightly rounded, as indicated at 18 in Figure 3. Also, the lower edges of both depending flanges are turned back and have beading 18a to further protect the shafts.

In practice a total of five brushes have beenfound to be effective for washing and scrubbing all forms of club heads, with three brushes, 15, 20 and 21, being arranged for cleaning woods while two brushes, 22 and 23, are arranged for cleaning irons. It is notdesired, however, to limit the invention to five brushes, since any number may be employed, if brushes of different sizes or shapes are used. The brush members further are substantially similar in construction, comprising rectangular shaped backs .24 having bristles 25 on their faces, with the opposed scrubbing elements presenting approximately fiat scrubbing surfaces. The use of brushes of such shape permits the utilization of economical commercially available scrubbing brushes.

As best seen in Figures 3, 5 and 6, brushes 19, and 21 are arranged parallel to each other to form a channel 26, the bristles of brushes 19 and 21 being opposed and spaced a distance slightly less than the dimensions of club head A; while the bristles 25 of brush 20 face upwardly to cushion head A as it is dropped into compartment 12 and to scrub the bottom of head A. When placed within compartment 12, brushes 19, 20 and 21 are held by an integral frame structure, to be described more fully hereinafter, and at an oblique inclination with respect to the compartments side walls, Manipulation of the club handle in a vertical sliding direction causes bristles 25 to frictionally engage club head A, severely scrubbing its surfaces to clean the same. By reversing the position of head, A, the top portion of the club head may also be cleaned if necessary. To clean the heel of club head A, a rocking motion is imparted to shaft C to pass the heel over the bristles of brush 20.

Brushes 22 and 23, as seen in Figures 4 and 6, have their bristles 25 opposed and nearly touching at the bottom of compartment 12 while being spaced apart at the top, thus forming a V-shaped scrubbing passage 27 for the faces of irons B as they are moved vertically. By making passage 27 V-shaped, the irons are easily inserted into and removed from compartment 12. Also, the apex of the V-shaped passage acts as a resilient cushion, hindering the irons from hitting the bottom of compartment 12, and preventing possible injury to the clubs heads.

An integral brush holder frame structure is provided to hold the brushes in their proper position in scrubbing compartment 12, comprising a metal base or strap 28 bent at approximately its midpoint 29 to form an obtuse angle, and three substantially U-shaped members, 30, 31 and 32, which are suitably connected to strap 28, such as by welding. Strap 28, when inserted into the tank 11, extends the length of compartment 12, having a horizontal portion 33 lying on the compartment bottom, with end 34 abutting one side wall, while upwardly extending portion 35, which lies parallel to the inclination of brushes 19, 20 and 21, is bent over at the other end 36 to form a brace 37 to abut the other side wall. Brush 20 is suitably attached at its back 24 to upwardly extending portion 35, such as by screws 38. Brushes 19 and 21 are similarly attached by screws to members and 31. Each brush, 19 and 21, is connected to one leg 39 of the respective U-shaped members 30 and 31, which are welded to the upwardly extending portion of strip 28.

U-shaped member 32 is welded to the horizontal portion 33 of strip 28, having legs 40.40 extending upwardly parallel to the sides of the V-shaped passage 27 formed by brushes 22 and 23. Brushes 22 and 23 are also suitably attached to member 32, one to each leg 40--40, such as by screws 38.

In order to retain the frame structure and brushes entirely rigid within scrubbing compartment 12, the legs 3939 of members 30 and 31 have laterally outwardly extending arms 41 which are sufiiciently long to abut the respective front and back walls of compartment 12. Similarly, legs 40-40 of member 32 have laterally outwardly extending arms 42 also adapted to abut the respective front and back walls of scrubbing compartment 12.

As seen in Figures 7 and 8, straps 45 may be provided to more rigidly hold the brushes in their proper scrubbing position, while also preventing warping of the brush backs 24. Each strap 45 forms a substantially U-shaped bracket having inwardly projecting portions 46 adapted to engage longitudinal slots 47 provided in the edge of each brush back 24. The brackets also are provided with apertures 48 for screws to pass therethrough to the brush back 24, in order to prevent any sliding of the brushes when they engage the club heads. The straps 45 are attached to the integral frame structure by suitable means, such as welding, thereby holding the brushes in substantially the same positions as shown in Figures 4 to 6.

Not only are the brushes retained in their proper positions without the need of any form of connection to tank 11, but it is also evident that all the brushes are bodily carried by the frame structure. This enables all parts to be removed as a unit from the tank 11 simply by removing cover 13 and lifting them out. Thus, when the brushes are worn out, they may be removed as a unit, together with the frame, and replaced in their entirety by a new frame and set of brushes, or a worn brush may be replaced separately as the need arises by merely turning the screws 38 and attaching a new brush to the brush supporting frame.

As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the openings 14 and 15 in cover 13 are so oriented with the respective sets of brush s a to guide he cl n mp m .2 in or that they may be properly engaged by the bristles 25 for scrubbing. Opening 14 is sufficiently long to permit shaft C to move forward as the vertical sliding motion is imparted to the club during scrubbing. At the same time, the bristles 25 of brushes 22 and 23 act as a resilient stop, preventing possible injury to the club head A caused by hitting the bottom of tank 11. Since vertical movement of head B causes a certain amount of translatory movement of the shaft D in aperture cross portions 15b and 150, the cross portions are of sutficient length to accommodate the shafts of all irons, while also permitting the faces of irons B to be automatically retained in a substantially vertical position by the bristles of brushes 22 and 23 as the heads B are moved vertically for cleaning.

To clean an iron having a large heel, the club head is tilted and slipped through opening 15. After scrubbing that portion of the head passed between brushes 22 and 2,3, the head is removed from scrubbing compartment 12, turned around, and reinserted into the compartment to scrub the yet uncleaned portion. Also, an iron having a large heel may be cleaned by inserting the club head through opening 14 and passing the head over the bristles 25 of brush 20.

As, shown in Figures 2 and 3, an apertured bracket 43 may be attached to compartment 12 by suitable means, such as welding. A chain may then be passed through the aperture 44 and attached to a tree or the like to prevent removal of the cleaning apparatus.

When it is desired to clean a golf club head, the club head is introduced into compartment 12 through the proper opening in cover 13, being guided thereby to the proper set of cleaning surfaces. Scrubbing movement over the cleaning surfaces is imparted to the head by moving the club handle withv a substantially vertical reciprocating motion. As pointed out hereinabove, the cover openings are made sufficiently large to accommodate the translatory movement experienced by the shafts as the club heads are scrubbed. Also, while acting to guide the clubs to the cleaning surfaces, the cover guards the golfer and his clothing by preventing water from being sprayed out of tank 11 during the cleaning operation. When the cleaning operation is completed the club is removed, and wiped dry, if desired.

Cover 13 need not be removed to replenish or replace cleaning fluid. To remove dirty fluid, tank 11 merely is tipped over, and the fluid allowed to fiow therefrom. It is then uprighted and new fluid poured into compartment 12 through cover opening 14. When the scrubbing compartment 12v and the frame and brushes become encrusted with dirt, grass, etc., cover 13 is removed and the frame and brushes taken out as a unit to permit cleaning.

Although two sets of cleaning surfaces have been shown, the essential feature is that there shall be at least one set of cleaning Surfaces mounted in a tank for cleaning woods or for cleaning irons. The apparatus also is readily adaptable to instances where a plurality of sets Woods; resilient stop means to prevent the woods from striking the metal compartment and frame, said stop means comprising a second set of scrubbing brushes retained by said frame adjacent to the bottom of said U-shaped channel and having opposed bristles forming a. vertical V-shaped passage to clean irons, the bristles at one side and adjacent the bottom of said V-shaped passage being engageable by the heads of woods to stop the movement thereof as they travel downwardly in said U-shaped channel; and a cover for said compartment, said cover having a first aperture over said first set of scrubbing brushes to guide woods thereto, a second T-shaped aperture over said second set of scrubbing brushes to guide irons thereto, and depending flanges around the peripheries of said apertures to protect the shafts of the clubs.

2. A device for cleaning golf club heads, comprising: a rectangular shaped receptacle for holding cleaning fluid; a set of brushes forming a U-shaped scrubbing channel; a frame for removably holding said brushes Within said receptacle, including a horizontal portion engageable with one wall and spaced from a pair of opposed walls forming the receptacle, a second portion extending from said horizontal portion, inclined relative to the bottom of said receptacle, and engageable with a second wall opposite said one wall, a U-shaped bracket attached to the inclined portion and rigidly supporting the brushes whereby said scrubbing channel also is inclined relative to the bottom of said receptacle, and arms connected with said bracket and cooperable with said opposed walls to prevent lateral displacement of said frame and brushes in said receptacle; a receptacle cover;

a substantially rectangular guide passage in said cover leading to said channel; a shield flange around the periphery of said passage to protect the shaft of clubs passing therethrough; and resilient stop means held on said horizontal portion adjacent the bottom of said channel, whereby the head of a club being reciprocated therein for cleaning is protected against injury.

3. The combination described in claim 2 wherein said brushes forming said channel having scrubbing contact with the heads of woods, said cover has a second T-shaped passage therein, and said resilient means includes a second set of brushes below said second passage forming a V-shaped scrubbing passage, the bristles at one side and at the bottom thereof being engageable by the head of a wood to prevent striking thereof against the receptacle bottom as it is scrubbed in said U-shaped channel; and a second substantially U-shaped bracket attached to said horizontal portion for supporting said second set of brushes, whereby a substantially vertical reciprocating motion of the club shaft of an iron inserted through said T-shaped passage passes the head thereof over the scrubbing surfaces presented by said second set of brushes to clean the head of said iron.

4. The combination as described in claim 3 wherein each of said scrubbing brushes in said sets of scrubbing brushes comprises an elongated rigid back with bristles attached thereto, each of said backs having slots along its longitudinal edges, and additionally including projections on said brackets adapted to engage said slots and hold said backs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 885,497 Maibaum Apr. 21, 1908 1,320,633 Minkler Nov. 4, 1919 1,876,284 Fried Sept. 6, 1932 2,121,307 Swift June 21, 1938 2,210,365 Gilpin Aug. 6, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,429 Great Britain of 1896 

